Toothbrush With An Electric Circuit

ABSTRACT

A toothbrush having a circuit for improving oral cavity health, displaying innovative light performance, allowing easy operation and reduced production cost. The toothbrush includes an electronic circuit disposed within a handle of the toothbrush, a power source, a light source, and a device to release ions. Ions are automatically generated within an oral cavity when a user holds the handle and wets the toothbrush with water, thus helping to maintain oral hygiene and providing a dazzling light performance emitted from the handle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/797,097, filed on Apr. 30, 2007, which claims priority from Taiwanese Patent Application No. 095220902, filed on Nov. 26, 2006. All prior applications are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a toothbrush, and more particularly, one provided with a power source, a light source, and an electronic circuit to release electric ions to automatically generate ions into an oral cavity to help maintain oral hygiene.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional toothbrushes generally available in the market usually have multiple rows of bristles disposed on an end of a handle for removing residuals found in gaps between teeth to maintain oral health when used in conjunction with toothpaste. However, they fail to reach deeper to the skin in one's mouth to improve cellular activity. With rapid development of technology, toothbrushes having embedded electronic devices can be generally found in the market. The electronic devices, including circuits and associated electronic parts are essentially soldered together. Therefore, the electronic device is limited in function and deprived of becoming more practical in use by consumers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush with a circuit that is capable of improving oral cavity health, displaying an innovative light performance, allowing easy operation and reducing production cost. To achieve these objectives, the toothbrush has an embedded power source connected to a circuit assembly provided with a light guide structure, and an ion generation device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention as assembled.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing an electronic device of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a control circuit 20 is disposed in a handle 12 of a toothbrush 10 having multiple rows of bristles 11. Conductive plates 30, 31 of different polarities are respectively connected to the control circuit. Contacts 32, 33 respectively protrude from conductive plates 30, 31 and contact positive and negative electrodes of cell 40. A signal electrode 34 extends from the conductive plate 31. A conductive plate 50 is disposed on and slightly protrudes from the handle 12 of the toothbrush 10. The signal electrode 34 is connected to the conductive plate 50.

A light-emitting device 21 is connected to the control circuit 20. A conductive block 51 is also connected to the control circuit 20 and is disposed near the end of the toothbrush 10 having the bristles 11. A light guide post 60 is located in the toothbrush 10 near to where the light-emitting device 21 is located. The light guide post 60 has a recessed light guide edge 61 disposed immediately next to a front end of the light-emitting device 21 such that light from light-emitting device 21 is visible through an exposed end of light guide post 60. The control circuit 20 of the toothbrush 10 is sealed in the handle 12 by a cover 70.

Now referring to FIG. 2, for a sectional view showing the preferred embodiment as assembled, wherein the conductive plate 31 on the control circuit 20 of the toothbrush 10 is provided with the contact 32 and the signal electrode 34 is in contact with the conductive plate 50. This structure saves soldering of multiple lines, a job otherwise required in the prior art, to reduce production cost. The conductive plate 50 and the conductive block 51 disposed in the handle of the toothbrush 10 enable, when the toothbrush is held and dipped in water by a user, the control circuit 20 to be automatically operated to generate ions near the bristles 11 for cleaning the oral cavity of the user and, at the same time, to automatically cause the light-emitting device 21 to illuminate. The light-emitting device 21 may be a monochromatic or a multi-color light source adjacent to the light guide edge 61 of the light guide post 60. One end or both ends of the light guide post 60 are slightly exposed out of the toothbrush handler to enable light from the light-emitting device 21 to be visible externally of the toothbrush 10 to prompt the user that the toothbrush 10 is in use. If the toothbrush 10 and/or the cover 70 is made of a material that is capable of refracting or guiding light, the toothbrush may provide unique light and shade performance effects when the light-emitting device 21 is activated to emit light.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the same results can be achieved by having the conductive plate 50 disposed on the cover 70 beneath the control circuit 20 and having the conductive plates 31, 50 in conductive contact with each other.

The present invention discloses a toothbrush including an electronic circuit disposed within a handle of the toothbrush and includes a combination of a power source connected to the circuit, a light guide structure and an ion generation device. The toothbrush achieves its purposes of maintaining oral hygiene, displaying innovative color performance effects, allowing easy operation, and reducing production cost to add more practical and economic values to the toothbrush. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A toothbrush comprising: a handle; said handle being made of a light guiding material, and having a first side and a second side opposite said first side; a plurality of bristles extending from said first side and adjacent to a first end; a single electronic circuit consisting essentially of: a first conductive member mounted in said handle adjacent to said plurality of bristles having a portion extending outward from said handle; an electronic control circuit embedded in said handle electrically connected to said first conductive member; a second conductive member mounted in said handle; a source of electrical power mounted within said handle electrically connected to said electronic control circuit and said second conductive member; and a single light source visible through said first side and said second side; wherein said single electronic circuit activates said source of electrical power and said light source when said second conductive member is gripped by a user and said first conductive member is moistened.
 2. The tooth brush of claim 1 wherein said light source is a monochromatic light source.
 3. The tooth brush of claim 1 wherein said light source is a multi-color light source.
 4. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the light source emits unique light and shade performance effects when the light source is activated.
 5. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a light emitting device electrically connected to said electronic control circuit, and a light guide post mounted to said handle located adjacent to said light emitting device, said light guide post having a portion extending exteriorly of said handle so as to transmit light from said light emitting device, wherein said light source is visible through said light guide post and said light guiding material.
 6. The tooth brush of claim 5 wherein said light guide post comprises a recessed light guide edge located adjacent to said light emitting device.
 7. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein said toothbrush is an ionic toothbrush.
 8. The toothbrush if claim 7 wherein ions are emitted from said first conductive member.
 9. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein said second conductive member is located on said first side.
 10. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein said second conductive member is located on said second side.
 11. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein said second conductive member protrudes from said handle.
 12. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein said toothbrush is made of a light refracting material.
 13. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein said toothbrush is made of a light guiding material.
 14. An Ionic toothbrush comprising: a handle; said being made of a light guiding material, and handle having a first side and a second side opposite said first side; a plurality of bristles extending from said first side and adjacent to a first end; a single electronic circuit consisting essentially of: a first conductive member mounted in said handle adjacent to said plurality of bristles having a portion extending outward from said handle; an electronic control circuit embedded in said handle electrically connected to said first conductive member; a second conductive member mounted in said handle; a source of electrical power mounted within said handle electrically connected to said electronic control circuit and said second conductive member; a single light source visible through said first side and said second side. wherein said single electronic circuit activates said source of electrical power and said light source, and ions are emitted from said first conductive member, when said second conductive member is gripped by a user and said first conductive member is moistened.
 15. The tooth brush of claim 14 wherein said light source is a monochromatic light source.
 16. The tooth brush of claim 14 wherein said light source is a multi-color light source.
 17. The toothbrush of claim 14 wherein the light source emits unique light and shade performance effects when the light source is activated.
 18. The toothbrush of claim 14 wherein said light source comprises a light emitting device electrically connected to said electronic control circuit, and a light guide post mounted to said handle located adjacent to said light emitting device, said light guide post having a portion extending exteriorly of said handle so as to transmit light from said light emitting device, wherein said light source is visible through said light guide post and said light guiding material.
 19. The tooth brush of claim 18 wherein said light guide post comprises a recessed light guide edge located adjacent to said light emitting device.
 20. The toothbrush of claim 14 wherein said toothbrush is made of on of at least a light guiding and refracting material. 